May 22, 2007
Latest Yankees gift: $91 million train station
The new commuter rail station for the New York Yankees' new stadium finally has a price tag, and it's not $40 million, or even $45 million, as previously reported. The new figure: $91 million, with the state Metropolitan Transportation Authority kicking in $52 million, and the city $39 million. Old Man George's share? Not one thin dime.
Now, a public transit link is arguably better public policy than, say, the three new parking garages (it was four, but one has been dropped) that the state is chipping in to help build for baseball patrons in the heart of asthma alley. The MTA claims that up to 10,000 fans a game will use the new station - which strains credulity, given that there are already two perfectly good subway lines already at Yankee Stadium, and the Metro-North Hudson Line (the green one here), which is the only one that would run to the new station, doesn't actually serve all that many people.
Even if it's arguably good green planning, though, it's still an added public cost of the project, which when added to the previously reported $425 million in city, state, and federal subsidies means the cost to taxpayers of the new Yankees stadium - which then-Yankees exec Steve Swindel promised in 2005 would involve "no public subsidies" - will now be at least $516 million. Or in numbers the average baseball fan can understand, about 424 Roger Clemens starts.
—Neil deMause
Supposedly for game days, Metro-North will alter the schedules so that all three lines will serve the Stadium station. (Just how they'll do that, I don't know.) There may also be shuttle trains from Grand Central Station.
Posted by Vincent on May 22, 2007 10:06 PM
Looks like Steinbrenner is really taking NYC to the cleaners on the stadium.
Posted by Mike on May 22, 2007 10:30 PM
One big problem with dedicating Metro-North trains is that patrons will be required to wait until after the Great Mariano throws the last pitch in order to leave - irrespective of whether there is a rain delay, extra-innings, long games, late starting times or whatever.
Unless, of course, MN decides to have trains leave the game in midstream, which is pretty pointless and lame.
Posted by Jonathan on May 23, 2007 11:42 AM
Just heard back from the MTA:
1) Depending on whether it's rush hour or not, trains on the Harlem and New Haven will either back up from Mott Haven, where the three lines come together, or Yankees-bound passengers will have to transfer further south for a Hudson line train.
2) The 6-10,000 ridership figure the MTA gave out was for "trips," not actual total fans. So the number of actual individuals is likely to be in the 3-5,000 range, which is more reasonable.
Posted by Neil on May 23, 2007 11:44 AM
And how many of those 3,000 - 5,000 are cannibalized from riders that are already taking MN and the subway? Sort of a mass-transit "substitution effect"...
Posted by Jonathan on May 23, 2007 11:56 AM
"We believe the overwhelming majority of people who make up our ridership estimates represent people who don't currently take the subway today."
Posted by Neil on May 23, 2007 02:09 PM
So in other words... "We don't have a clue"
Posted by Jonathan on May 23, 2007 07:18 PM
I am really glad to see a focus on rail transportation to the games here. We shouldn't be building even one new parking space in asthma alley!
Posted by Aaron Donovan on June 1, 2007 11:53 PM